Badminton
GENDER AND CONTINENTAL QUOTAS FOR BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION COUNCIL APPROVED AT AGM
BY ALI IVESON
Proposals introducing gender and continental quotas for representation on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council have been approved during the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday.
The 81st BWF AGM, staged in Danish capital Copenhagen and online, also saw a four-term limit placed on the position of BWF President.
Proposal 5.4 concerned gender and continental representation on the BWF Council.
Now passed, it means a minimum 30 per cent of the Council must be female and likewise a minimum 30 per cent male.
The 30 per cent minimum also applies to each continent’s representation on the body.
Two new ordinary Council members will be added – taking the total to 30 – but only 27 members are included in the quotas.
Para-badminton’s vice-president, as well as two athlete representatives, are free to be any gender and from any continental area.
The President, their deputy, five vice-presidents and 20 remaining ordinary members must have the following configuration; 10 Asian representatives, nine from Europe, three from the Americas, three representing Africa and two from Oceania.
Given there must be 30 per cent gender representation for each continent, Oceania’s two Council members, for example, need to be one woman and one man.
In future elections, if there were not enough Council candidates from a certain gender or region, positions would be left vacant for a year until another election can take place.
“Today we have made history by staging the very first virtual AGM and I thank all member associations and voting delegates for being part of this journey,” BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said.
“I also want to congratulate the membership for passing the landmark vote to approve the constitutional change to ensure gender equality on the BWF Council and for taking another important step to improve our governance practice by bringing in a vetting process for officials of the BWF.
“The virtual AGM today has allowed us to complete our governance requirements to host our AGM every year before 31 July, but also to deliver some important decisions to ensure we continuously improve our governance practice over time.
“Our focus on good governance is essential for the BWF and we continue to excel in this area.
“Just recently, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) released its third review of International Federation (IF) governance, and BWF ranked third overall among 31 Summer IFs.
“This is fantastic news for badminton that we are doing very well in this area.
“What’s more pleasing is that today (Saturday) as a federation we have been able to oversee the approval of a number of key Council proposals which highlights the ambition of the membership and Council to continue to improve.
“It’s a great sign for the future of badminton and I congratulate everyone on these outstanding results.”
ASOIF’s review found that gender equality remains an issue for many IFs and the currently composition of the BWF Council would not reach the 30 per cent threshold for female representation.
Other constitutional amendment passed include adding the chair of the Para Badminton Athletes’ Commission to the Council, meaning there are two athlete representatives.
Vetting processes and minimum eligibility criteria for elected officials, as well as members of BWF hearing panels, were also approved.
Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African para badminton, emerging overall champions at the Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025, which concluded on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
The hosts were in a class of their own, sweeping an impressive 36 medals — including 10 gold, 13 silver, and 13 bronze — to finish far ahead of other participating nations.
Kenya’s National Olympic Committee secured second place with 11 medals (four gold, two silver, and five bronze), while Egypt rounded off the top three with eight medals (three gold, one silver, and four bronze).
The Republic of Benin followed in fourth with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, and the Democratic Republic of Congo placed fifth with one gold and two bronze. Tunisia came sixth with one silver and one bronze, while Cameroon claimed seven place after collecting six bronze medals.
Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda each won two bronze medals to complete the top 10, while Mauritius earned one bronze medal. Only Mozambique finished without a medal among the 12 participating countries that featured in 19 events during the week-long championship, which began on October 7.
Nigeria’s gold medalists included several standout performers: Eniola Bolaji, Africa’s undisputed queen of para badminton; Chigozie Nnanna, Chukwuemeka Eze, Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, Mary Nathan, Chinyere Okoro, Munkwoba Goman, and Bello Tukur.
Notably, Bolaji, Nnanna, and Nathan had also captured gold at the First Abia Para Badminton International held at the same venue a week earlier, from September 30 to October 5, underscoring their consistency and dominance.
Nigeria’s silver medalists included Odinachi Uwalaka, Obinna Nwosu, Ifeanacho Ohaeri, Ebikoboere Brown, Abel David, James Akpan, and Nendimwa Monday, among others.
At the colourful closing ceremony, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State hailed the athletes for their courage, skill, and sportsmanship. Represented by Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, Otti praised the event as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and the continent.
“We have learned, improved, and been inspired. And let me assure you — Abia will bid to host again, and when we do, we will offer an experience that will far surpass this pioneering effort,” he said.
Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), lauded the para athletes for embodying the spirit of resilience and human dignity through their performances.
“Our para athletes have shown that sport is a powerful expression of ability, resilience, and human dignity,” Orbih said, extending appreciation to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for their support and guidance.
Orbih also commended the Abia State Government for providing a world-class venue and a welcoming atmosphere that fostered friendship and unity among participants.
The Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025 not only crowned Nigeria as continental champions but also showcased the nation’s capacity to host international sporting events of the highest standard — a milestone that officials say will serve as a springboard for future competitions on African soil.
MEDAL TABLE
| Country | Position | Medals | Total No. of Medals | ||
| No. of Gold Medals | No. of Silver Medals | No. of Gold, Bronze Medals | |||
| Nigeria | 1st | 10 | 13 | 13 | 36 |
| Kenya | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Egypt | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Benin | 4th | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Congo | 5th | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 6th | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Cameroon | 7th | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Zimbabwe | 8th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Burkinafaso | 9th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rwanda | 10th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mauritius | 11th | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a two-day outreach training held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Organised in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the State Ministry of Education, and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Adamawa chapter, the training took place on 24 and 25 September 2025 at the General Murtala Mohammed College hall.
A total of 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students from the Yola area participated in the intensive programme, which aimed to introduce badminton to schools and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The training was facilitated by a team of five coaches led by George Shitta, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Taraba State Sports Commission. Participants were taken through the fundamentals of badminton, including grip techniques, footwork, serving, stroke execution, game strategy, and proper warm-up routines.
According to the organisers, the programme was part of the BFN’s ongoing partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which has supported similar “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” sessions across the country over the past three years. These sessions are designed to help teachers and students learn the game together while fostering teamwork, discipline, and social development.
The trainees actively engaged with the coaches — asking questions, sharing experiences, and demonstrating newly acquired skills. At the end of the programme, each participating school received badminton kits, including rackets, shuttlecocks, and nets, to help sustain practice beyond the training.
The Director of the Adamawa State Sports Council, Mr. Daniel Ahmed, graced the event, while the lead facilitator, George Shitta, paid courtesy visits to key education stakeholders — Hajiya Aisha M. Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Birsan Panuel, Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
Organisers described the initiative as a model of effective collaboration among sports authorities, education agencies, and development partners — a partnership they hope will continue to enhance both the academic and athletic growth of teachers, coaches, and students in Adamawa State.
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The curtain fell on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, with host nation Nigeria making the podium and the event earning praise as a model for sports tourism in Africa.
Though global heavyweights dominated the finals, Nigeria’s Obanisola and her partner gave the home crowd reason to cheer by clinching bronze in the Women’s Doubles, ensuring the green and white were represented on the podium.
Elsewhere, India’s S. Lele defended her Women’s Singles crown with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over compatriot Kashyap, while Russia’s neutral duo Alimov and Ogloblin sealed Men’s Doubles gold against UAE’s Ravikrishna and Rimdahoi.
Tournament organizers hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Lagos International Badminton Classics has once again proven that Nigeria is ready to host world-class sporting events,” said Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN). “We are building a brand that showcases Africa’s talent, hospitality, and passion for badminton.”
With $17,500 prize money shared among winners and athletes praising the hospitality of Lagos, the championship reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing profile as a hub for global sports. The 9th edition in 2026 promises an even bigger spectacle.
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